North Norfolk

North Norfolk's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 100,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of North Norfolk increased by 3.2%, from just under 98,400 to 101,000.

The addition of just over 3,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Norfolk was home to, on average, 0.75 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Norfolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Norfolk increased by three years, from 48 to 51 years.

This coastal area had the highest average age in Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 17% of people in North Norfolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Norfolk

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in North Norfolk, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In North Norfolk, the proportion of single people increased from 21% in 2001 to 24% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in North Norfolk fell from 57% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in North Norfolk that rented privately increased from 12% to 14% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk households that owned their home decreased from 71% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in North Norfolk increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

North Norfolk saw Eastof England's second-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 7 in 10 (71%) households in North Norfolk had no children, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 23% to 21%.

Across the region, only Maldon saw a greater rise in the proportion of households without children (from 60% to 62%).

During this period, North Norfolk overtook Cambridge to become the Eastof England local authority area with the highest percentage of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Norfolk

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in North Norfolk.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in North Norfolk that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 76,000 in 2001 to about 67,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 66%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 7,800 (7.6%)

About 550 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 280 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in North Norfolk increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Norfolk

The percentage of North Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.4% to 4.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.5%, while the percentage of North Norfolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in North Norfolk increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in North Norfolk

In 2011, 99% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in North Norfolk.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (which remained close 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in North Norfolk from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 380 in 2001 to about 620 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.6%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 240 to about 530 (from 0.2% to 0.5%).

About 160 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 82 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in North Norfolk remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk residents that described their health as fair decreased from 27% to 17%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Norfolk decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in North Norfolk working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in North Norfolk increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Norfolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Norfolk remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Norfolk by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in North Norfolk, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.5% to 7.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had a married couple, compared with 36% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Norfolk, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.2%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of North Norfolk residents that were studying increased from 1.5% to 1.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (45%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 46% in 2001. The percentage of North Norfolk residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.3%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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